Friday, 28 July 2023 | PNS | NAINITAL
In a petition filed by former chief minister Harish Rawat challenging a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the sting operation targeting him in 2016, former cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat sought more time to file an affidavit in Uttarakhand High Court. The petitioner’s counsel also sought more time from the court. The single bench of justice Ravindra Maithani has set the matter for hearing next on August 31.
The former chief minister and senior Congress leader Harish Rawat had filed the petition in the HC contending that some people had levelled false allegations on him during his tenure as the chief minister, which had led to the fall of his government. The State government tried to get the matter investigated by the CBI which was asked to first conduct a preliminary investigation.
However, later the government withdrew its order. Rawat further states in his petition that he cannot be arrested as the government had withdrawn its order for a preliminary investigation by the CBI and that the cases related to the sting operation hold no relevance. The former CM has stated in his petition that he is being harassed repeatedly in this case whereas the HC had already ordered a stay on his arrest.
It will be recalled that a special CBI court had on July 17 ordered four leaders, including the former CM, former cabinet minister Harak Singh Rawat, Dwarahat MLA Madan Bisht and journalist turned politician Umesh Sharma who is currently an independent MLA from Khanpur constituency to give their voice samples in connection with the 2016 sting operation case.
